Biodiversity And Conservation Msc

A key global challenge is to maintain and enhance biodiversity in the face of unprecedented pressure from growing human populations, climate change, intense farming and increased industrialisation. The need to maintain and indeed enhance biodiversity has never been more important. This programme examines the evolution and ecology of plants and animals, and reveals how to conserve biodiversity through finding solutions for the management of the natural world. Be taught by experts in plant and animal science and conservation. Experience a unique hands-on course through applied lab, computer and field-based approaches. Access the world-class collections and resources at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - both in the UK and abroad, as well as access to over 350 Kew Scientists. Be integrated into active research teams studying biodiversity at QMUL, Kew and beyond. Take a fieldwork module in a biodiversity hotspot. Choose one of two unique streams; ‘Ecology, Evolution and Conservation’ or ‘Conservation and Restoration’ depending on your interests. Develop the skills and experience that employers and PhD supervisors need. What you'll study Learn the skills needed to kick-start your career in this exciting and evolving field. This new programme balances evolutionary and ecological theory, conservation and restoration to find practical applications in conservation. You will learn how to monitor, survey, study, manage and restore biodiversity in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Through a combination of core modules and some electives, you’ll cover topics including habitat restoration, spatial analysis, evolutionary biology, and conservation policy, theory and practice. We aim to ground your studies in insightful practical training, so that you’re familiar with the very latest industry-standard equipment and practice. To put these skills and knowledge into practice, you will have the opportunity to be embedded into research projects and NGO work on a two-week field trip to a biodiversity hotspot: Cabo Verde, Madagascar or Borneo (depending on your interests, although venues are subject to change). This programme offers two unique streams; Ecology, Evolution and Conservation or Conservation and Restoration. The main differences are which two elective modules you select, the field course location and the research project topic. For both programmes you commence your training by gaining expertise in cutting edge literature in ecology, evolution and conservation. You move from that to a module that gives a thorough grounding in data analysis, centred around the statistical programme R, essential for your project and any data-based employment/training. Then you will explore causes, consequences, challenges and solutions regarding biodiversity loss. This will be covered in three modules, taught by Queen Mary and Kew staff, at their places of work. During this phase you will be asked to elect to do one of two streams.